OIC Backs Geneva Peace Confab On Syria

Moscow, June 9, IRNA – Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) supports the Geneva 2 conference on Syria. Lavrov and OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu held a meeting in Moscow earlier in the day in which they discussed cooperation between Russia and the OIC as well as Muslim world issues, Particularly Syrian crisis. At the end of the meeting, Lavrov told reporters that during the talks the two sides had explored ways to expand ties between Russia and the OIC. He called on the OIC to play a more effective role in resolving regional and international issues. Lavrov noted that Russia as an observer member of the OIC attends all the meetings of the organization. He said that during the meeting he had briefed Ihsanoglu on the efforts made by Russia and its allies to hold international conference on Syria in Geneva and the obstacles on the way. He called on Syrian opposition groups and influential countries in the region such as Iran and Egypt to help bring peace to Syria and pave the way for establishment of a transitional government in the country. He said that Russia and the OIC share common stands on other issues such as Palestinian issue and crises in the Middle East and North Africa. He also expressed Russiaˈs willingness to further cooperate with OIC to help improve the situation in Afghanistan./end